Camera Trap Success Among Carnivores and Prey Animals in Tazewell County, Virginia

Obtaining basic ecological information on occurrence and activity levels in cryptic and elusive species is often difficult. Camera trapping provides a relatively inexpensive opportunity to acquire such data. We used infrared-triggered cameras to assess trap success and activity levels of several species across four consecutive seasons, including: Ursus americanus (black bear), Lynx rufus (bobcat), Canis latrans (coyote), Vulpes vulpes (red fox), Urocyon cinereoargenteus (gray fox), Procyon lotor (raccoon), Odocoileus virginianus (white-tailed deer), Didelphis virginiana (opossum), Sciurus carolinensis (gray squirrel), and Meleagris gallopavo (wild turkey). With a total of 396 trap nights (TN) at one station over the span of four consecutive seasons, overall trap success rate was 86.87 captures per 100 TN. Trap success was highest in wild turkeys (31.57/100 TN), followed by raccoons (15.66/100 TN), gray squirrels (10.86/100 TN), gray foxes (8.59/100 TN), white-tailed deer (8.08/100 TN), opossums (5.56/100 TN), coyotes (1.52/100 TN), red foxes (1.26/100 TN), and bobcats (0.76/100 TN). Overall trap success significantly varied across all target species combined (Kruskal Wallis Chi-Square = 349, d.f. = 10, p \u3c 0.0001). However, trap success did not vary across all seasons for all target species combined (Kruskal Wallis Chi-Square = 0.99, d.f. = 3, p = 0.78). This study is the first to use camera trapping to examine species presence and activity levels in a longitudinal manner for cryptic and elusive species of southwest Virginia

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin is Markedly Decreased Following Pulmonary F. tularensis Challenge

Neutrophils form the first line of defense during infection and are indispensable in this function. The neutrophil elastase is a key effector molecule of the innate immune system with potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, spirochaetes, and fungi. However, the release of neutrophil elastase during bacterial infection must be checked otherwise its release in the extracellular milieu will result in damage to surrounding tissues. Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a small glycoprotein clade A serpine serine protease inhibitor and has been shown to increase in humans following bacterial and viral infection. Francisella tularensis is a Gram-negative facultative intracellular bacterium and the causative agent of tularemia. Type A strains are the most virulent with an infectious dose as low as 10 colony forming units and a mortality rate of 30–60% among untreated cases of pneumonic tularemia. We report here significant reduction of this major inhibitor of the neutrophil elastase in plasma of F. tularensis LVS and F. tularensis (type A) SCHU S4 infected animals following pulmonary challenge. Associated with an imbalance of protease–antiprotease function at the alveolar level in lungs of infected animals, increased elastase activity was observed in lung lavage fluids accompanied by decrease lung function, i.e., loss of lung elastance with concomitant increase of pulmonary hysteresivity. Consistent with a competent acute phase response following F. tularensis LVS and F. tularensis (type A) SCHU S4 pulmonary challenge and proposed up-regulation of plasma haptoglobin during the course of the acute phase reaction, haptoglobin was observed significantly increased. These data suggest that unchecked neutrophil serine protease activity may arise from F. tularensis targeted reduction of plasma α(1)-antitrysin promoting lung tissue damage facilitating increased dissemination of this bacterium in infected animals

The Ursinus Weekly, March 4, 1971

Indian Kickingbird addresses forum • U.C. I.R.C. plans U.N. • New USGA officers just could not lose • UC seniors plan Showboat & prom • 1971 commencement • Ursinus women join Girl Scouts • Travelin\u27 Four due May 13 • Recent faculty actions • Editorial: Wanted - psychologist • Letters to the editor: Administrative appeal; Last word; Youth\u27s plea • Opinion: The people\u27s peace treaty • Faculty portrait: Dr. James P. Craft, Jr. • Curtis basement: Strangers in paradise • Bears fall to E. Baptist • Sports corner • Harris named baseball coachhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1139/thumbnail.jp

Planning and delivery of intensity modulated bolus electron conformal therapy

PURPOSE: Bolus electron conformal therapy (BECT) is a clinically useful, well-documented, and available technology. The addition of intensity modulation (IM) to BECT reduces volumes of high dose and dose spread in the planning target volume (PTV). This paper demonstrates new techniques for a process that should be suitable for planning and delivering IM-BECT using passive radiotherapy intensity modulation for electrons (PRIME) devices. METHODS: The IM-BECT planning and delivery process is an addition to the BECT process that includes intensity modulator design, fabrication, and quality assurance. The intensity modulator (PRIME device) is a hexagonal matrix of small island blocks (tungsten pins of varying diameter) placed inside the patient beam-defining collimator (cutout). Its design process determines a desirable intensity-modulated electron beam during the planning process, then determines the island block configuration to deliver that intensity distribution (segmentation). The intensity modulator is fabricated and quality assurance performed at the factory (.decimal, LLC, Sanford, FL). Clinical quality assurance consists of measuring a fluence distribution in a plane perpendicular to the beam in a water or water-equivalent phantom. This IM-BECT process is described and demonstrated for two sites, postmastectomy chest wall and temple. Dose plans, intensity distributions, fabricated intensity modulators, and quality assurance results are presented. RESULTS: IM-BECT plans showed improved D CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated the feasibility of translating IM-BECT to the clinic using the techniques presented for treatment planning, intensity modulator design and fabrication, and quality assurance processes

Sensory traits, color, and shelf life of low-dose irradiated, raw, ground beef patties

Irradiation of raw ground beef patties had minimal effects on flavor and aroma of patties after cooking. Oxidative rancidity increased when patties were irradiated in aerobic but not in vacuum packages. Irradiation of vacuum-packaged ground beef patties produced a more stable color. In both packaging types, irradiation significantly reduced microbial growth during storage

Sensory traits, color, and shelf life of low-dose irradiated, precooked, ground beef patties

Irradiation did not influence bitter, bloody, burnt, chemical, fat-like, juiciness, liver-like, beef identity, metallic, rancid, sour, sweet, and toughness flavor/textural attributes, beef aroma, or off-odor in precooked ground beef patties. Irradiation slightly increased the animal hair flavor note, but intensity levels were <1 on the 15-point sensory scale. Except for 10% fat non-irradiated controls, reheated precooked patties had a slight sour, ammonia-like, top note. Irradiation at 3.5 kilograys (kGy) increased external redness in vacuum-packaged patties, but not in aerobic packages. Aerobic packaging with or without irradiation decreased external precooked redness. Oxidative rancidity increased when patties were irradiated in aerobic but not in vacuum packages. Reduction of oxygen in vacuum bags extended the shelf life of the precooked ground beef patties, at least in terms of oxidative rancidity. Precooking ground beef patties, irrespective of irradiation or packaging type, posed sensory disadvantages, and improvements to the precooking process are needed before irradiating at low-dose levels is appropriate

Polarizing Grids, Their Assemblies and Beams of Radiation

This article gives an analysis of the behavior of polarizing grids and reflecting polarizers by solving Maxwell's equations, for arbitrary angles of incidence and grid rotation, for cases where the excitation is provided by an incident plane wave or a beam of radiation. The scattering and impedance matrix representations are derived and used to solve more complicated configurations of grid assemblies. The results are also compared with data obtained in the calibration of reflecting polarizers at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO). From this analysis, we propose a method for choosing the optimum grid parameters (wire radius and spacing). We also provide a study of the effects of two types of errors (in wire separation and radius size) that can be introduced in the fabrication of a grid.Comment: 35 pages, 6 figure

An Infrared through Radio Study of the Properties and Evolution of IRDC Clumps

We examine the physical properties and evolutionary stages of a sample of 17 clumps within 8 Infrared Dark Clouds (IRDCs) by combining existing infrared, millimeter, and radio data with new Bolocam Galactic Plane Survey (BGPS) 1.1 mm data, VLA radio continuum data, and HHT dense gas (HCO+ and N2H+) spectroscopic data. We combine literature studies of star formation tracers and dust temperatures within IRDCs with our search for ultra-compact (UC) HII regions to discuss a possible evolutionary sequence for IRDC clumps. In addition, we perform an analysis of mass tracers in IRDCs and find that 8 micron extinction masses and 1.1 mm Bolocam Galactic Plane Survey (BGPS) masses are complementary mass tracers in IRDCs except for the most active clumps (notably those containing UCHII regions), for which both mass tracers suffer biases. We find that the measured virial masses in IRDC clumps are uniformly higher than the measured dust continuum masses on the scale of ~1 pc. We use 13CO, HCO+, and N2H+ to study the molecular gas properties of IRDCs and do not see any evidence of chemical differentiation between hot and cold clumps on the scale of ~1 pc. However, both HCO+ and N2H+ are brighter in active clumps, due to an increase in temperature and/or density. We report the identification of four UCHII regions embedded within IRDC clumps and find that UCHII regions are associated with bright (>1 Jy) 24 micron point sources, and that the brightest UCHII regions are associated with "diffuse red clumps" (an extended enhancement at 8 micron). The broad stages of the discussed evolutionary sequence (from a quiescent clump to an embedded HII region) are supported by literature dust temperature estimates; however, no sequential nature can be inferred between the individual star formation tracers.Comment: 33 pages, 26 figures, 6 tables, accepted for publication in ApJ. Full resolution version available here: http://casa.colorado.edu/~battersb/Publications.htm

The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium (BMC2) Collaborative Quality Improvement Initiative in Percutaneous Coronary Interventions

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72388/1/j.1540-8183.2002.tb01071.x.pd

Ferromagnetism in laser deposited anatase Ti1−x_{1-x}Cox_{x}O_{2-\delta} films

Pulsed laser deposited films of Co doped anatase TiO2 are examined for Co substitutionality, ferromagnetism, transport, magnetotransport and optical properties. Our results show limited solubility (up to ~ 2 %) of Co in the as-grown films and formation of Co clusters thereafter. For Ti0.93Co0.07O2-d sample, which exhibits a Curie temperature (Tc) over 1180 K, we find the presence of 20-50 nm Co clusters as well as a small concentration of Co incorporated into the remaining matrix. After being subjected to the high temperature anneal during the first magnetization measurement, the very same sample shows a Tc ~ 650 K and almost full matrix incorporation of Co. This Tc is close to that of as-grown Ti0.99Co0.01O2-d sample (~ 700 K). The transport, magnetotransport and optical studies also reveal interesting effects of the matrix incorporation of Co. These results are indicative of an intrinsic Ti1-xCoxO2-d diluted magnetic semiconductor with Tc of about 650-700 K.Comment: 14 pages + 9 figure